Dehradun Trip

Here’s to many more firsts & many more great memories!!!

My first solo trip…to Dehradun…there were many firsts for me in this trip..first solo travel, first independent flight journey, first time staying in a hostel and first visit to the Himalayas…

Day 1: 24 June 2022 Friday

Landed at Jolly Grant airport at around 2:30p. Rajoo Kaka, our family friend who lives in Dehradun came to pick me up. Reached Sun & Soil Backpacker’s Hostel (SSBH )in 10 mins.

Aaquib Moin the co worker at sun&soil showed me the hostel. Had spinach subzi and parathas. Took a nap & got refreshed when I woke up. Went for a bike ride of around 30 kms around the local hills of Upper Jollygrant, Thano & Ranipokhri with Rajoo kaka. Had parvar aloo and black dal with rice. Planned the next day with hostel mates Aaquib, Om & Rajoo kaka.

Day 2: 25 June 2022 Saturday

Went cycling on roads near by around 6, and afterwards went to Rajoo Kaka’s carpentry workshop. I drilled a wood piece which gets fitted in the wall as a support for flat wooden counter. I liked tinkering in the workshop. Had puri & paneer subzi for breakfast. Took rest, read a book on civilian everest expedition. Had lunch. Today was a Rest day! Reading, Sleeping…. Explored near by area & relaxed in a tubewell.  Played cards with mates.

Went to Rishikesh near a Gurudwara to rent Royal Enfield bikes for a bike trip the next day. Had soda shekanjabee.

Went to Ganga Ghat sit out. Saw Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula. Went to Harry Cafe. Had spinach & mushroom burger for dinner. Then finally came back to SSBH at 1215am.

Day 3: 26 June 2022 Sunday

Woke up at 430. Left for Bhadraj via mussoorie at 6 from SSBH. Dea’n rides with his Buddies regularly on Sundays. His group is named ‘Himalayan Souls’. 10 Royal Enfields and 14 peeps riding towards Mussoorie. That was a interesting & different start to the Sunday. Stopped for tea and bun omelette at 750. Mussoorie was still 11 kms to go. As we reached Mussoorie, cold weather & light showers welcomed us. Heavy rains started after some time. Rain continued till we reached Bhadraj. Visited Bhadraj temple at 10: 40. Bhadraj Temple is a temple of Shri Balram. Had Darshan & Prasad & Clicked photos. Left the place around 11. Started the return journey. Visited Cloud’s end while returning. Cloud’s end is a view point where there is place to pitch a tent and camp at night if one is doing the Bhadraj temple trek from Mussoorie. Stopped midway for lunch. Had awesome roadside Parathas at 12. Then visited the wishing well and the backside of George’s Everest House…the guy who found out the highest point on earth and is named after him…Mount Everest. Spent some time in the clouds! Wishing well is a normal water well, named wishing well for no reason! It is more than 190 years old. Finally started our way back. Had a refreshing sugarcane juice midway. Reached SSBH at 410.

Relaxed till 6. Had a refreshing bath. Read Everest book, Kept snacking, Strolled on terrace! Had my last meal of the day: Roti, Rajma & Rice.

Day 4: 27 June 2022 Monday

Woke up by the sound of rains at 930! Got adequate sleep. Had morning tea & Parathas with butter. Got an opportunity to paint a wooden ply door of a cupboard in the hostel. I scrubbed the loose dirt, cleaned the surface with the sandpaper (hard work!!) and then gave the first coat of paint. Strolled on the terrace as it stopped raining. 100% pure fresh air and chirping of birds. Absolute Bliss. Had lunch. Had a short nap of half an hour.

Went into the forest which is just behind the Hostel. We (me & Harvinder) found a peacock feather, walked further for about a kilometer, Clicked some snaps & then finally came back. Played Badminton with buddies from about 530 till 630. Went cycling nearby for about 5 kms. The airport is just 2 kms from the hostel, so one can see plane takeoffs & landings closely. Saw a similar takeoff of spicejet ATR-72. Came back to hostel. Played Uno & carrom. Had dinner at 930. Jamming session with Dean, Garima, Aaquib, Om & Ananya. Slept by 11:15

Day 5: 28 June 2022 Tuesday

Got up at 530. Got ready for quick Rishikesh trip. Started at 6. Rajesh the auto driver came with us(me & Samreen) & dropped us to Ram Jhula. Went walking from Ram Jhula towards Beetles ashram. Unfortunately, it was closed. Also it started raining. So went on the Sita (Janki) Bridge walking. Rajesh picked us there. A good walk of around 5 kms created a good appetite. Went to Rishikesh Town. Had a awesome Khasta Kachori & Chole Bhature at around 8. Topped it up with a hot Kullad ki chai. Came back to the hostel at 930, completely drenched! Changed clothes. Relaxed & Listened to songs. Found the Book named ‘life after death’ by Swani Vivekananda. Skimmed through the book. Heavy topic.

At around 11, started painting the second coat on the wooden ply door of the cupboard. After the second coat, it is looked much more better. Also, it’s easy to paint the second coat than the first one. Played Jenga with Aaquib & Garima. In the evening, went cycling to the famous Mango Garden to eat authentic veg steamed momos. Absolutely Yummy. Loved the cycling route. The road which goes to Thano from the airport is very scenic & has a lots of fresh air. On both the sides, there are tall trees with thick trunks, spreading their coolness all over. Had bengan bharta, Dal, roti & Rice at around 830p. After dinner, discussed with Garima & Aaquib & made a plan for next day’s Doon visit.

Day 6 :29 June 2022 Wednesday

Today,  Aaquib made pohe for breakfast. Had it with Laxminarayan chivda & Bakarwadi. Too yumm. Started at 1040 with Rajoo kaka in the car. Started raining heavily. Was a different experience. Also, ended up in a traffic jam near Isbt bus stand. Reached Decathlon Dehradun. Bought some stuff. Went straight to Buddha temple. Saw the massive statue of Buddha. Walked in the Buddha monastery. The place has a college, a cafe, a souvenir shop inside the premises.

Went to eat parathas at Jhurmut Vatika which is a local eatery in Thano, via Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower). Had the wholesome tasty parathas with the local drink called ‘pallad’. A spicy & Tangy yellow colored   drink made from buttermilk & live charcoal. (MIND BLOWING) It takes nearly 20 Days to make the drink. So, that was a heavy lunch. Came back to the hostel at around 4. Painted the final coat (third one) of the wooden ply door. Going to be ready by tomorrow evening for art design. Felt happy for myself. Got to know the process of painting. Went with Aaquib to buy some chicken from market. Chicken curry tonight. Helped Aaquib in making the chicken curry. Masta Farm style Chicken curry with Fresh Parathas. Drink: Mountain Dew. Gappa, snacks, songs & laughter. Packed the bags. Hung out with the peeps. Slept at 1215.

Day 7: 30 June 2022 Thursday

Woke up at 4 due to massive sound of rain. Went back to sleep & got up at 630 finally. Rain doesn’t know when to stop! Google said it was raining from 1 am. It feels so good to sit in the covered sit out & sip hot tea while it’s raining. Weather was also pleasant around 21° C.  Changed & got ready! Garima made fresh, tasty, sumptuous mango pancakes for Bfast. Left the hostel at 1020. Rajoo kaka, Garima and Aaquib came to see me off at the airport.

Luckily the rain stopped. & now it was cloudy with light winds. Originally, my flight was at 12:10, but it was delayed due to bad weather. Finally it departed from Doon at around 1:15. Had a turbulent but safe flight. There was a thunderstorm in Delhi. Cold winds.

At around 250, Flight was ready for take off from Delhi.  Landed in Pune at 5. Had a good flight. And most importantly, the experience of traveling and staying independently for 7 days was awesome!!